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Decatur, GA Tornado History — 122 Tornadoes Since 1950

Georgia · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Decatur, GA had?

Decatur has had 122 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 7 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Decatur?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Decatur was an EF0 on May 3, 2025.

When is tornado season in Decatur?

March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Decatur, with 18 on record. April through June account for 42 of the 122 tornadoes on record near Decatur.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
122
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
7
5.7% of total
Peak Month
March
18 on record
Per Year Avg
1.6
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Decatur

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 45 total, averaging 2.3 per year over this window.

2026 0+1 prelim
2025 3
2024 5
2023 2
2022 0
2021 3
2020 4
2019 3
2018 2
2017 3
2016 3
2015 2
2014 5
2013 1
2012 1
2011 1
2010 0
2009 1
2008 6
2007 0

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Decatur since December 29, 2025

This is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is not counted in the confirmed totals above.

Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.

Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.

Preliminary EF0° March 16, 2026
1 SSW Snapfinger, DeKalb County, GA
EF0 tornado with max winds of 75 MPH. On the ground for 2.7 miles at 135 yards max width. Numerous trees snapped or uprooted including 3 onto homes narrowly missing res (FFC)

Within 25 miles of Decatur. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

What storm spotters reported near Decatur

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Decatur and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 3, 2025 and the most recent on May 3, 2025. It is already counted in the Decatur totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

EF0° May 4, 2025
1 W Oak Hill, Newton County, GA
NWS storm survey confirms EF0 tornado with max winds 75mph. Trees downed along Buckingham Drive... hwy 20... hwy 212 east to Oak Hill Road. (FFC)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 6
1960s 8
1970s 17
1980s 16
1990s 18
2000s 19
2010s 21
2020s 17

Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating

F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.

EF0 40
EF1 49
EF2 26
EF3 6
EF4 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 7
Feb 10
Mar 18
Apr 18
May 17
Jun 7
Jul 7
Aug 3
Sep 2
Oct 13
Nov 9
Dec 11

Casualties on Record Near Decatur

10 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Decatur since 1950, across 7 events. 514 injuries have been reported across all events. 1975 was the deadliest year on record near Decatur.

The deadliest single event was an F3 on March 24, 1975, which caused 3 fatalities along a 14.8-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Decatur

Deadliest Tornado
F3 on March 24, 1975 — 3 fatalities, 14.8 mi path, 500 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on March 24, 1975 — est. ~$275.0M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF1 on May 20, 2008 — 1,760 yards wide.
Longest Path
F3 on December 24, 1964 — 75.4 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on May 3, 2025.

What the record shows near Decatur

The 2010s were the busiest decade near Decatur, with 21 of the 122 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 17 so far. The Decatur record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Decatur, 89 reached EF0 or EF1 and 33 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Decatur is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged.

Across the last 20 years Decatur has averaged 2.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 45 in total. 2008 was the busiest of them with 6, and 4 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Decatur, GA had?
Since 1950, 122 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Decatur. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Decatur?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Decatur was an F3 on March 24, 1975, which caused 3 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Decatur?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Decatur, with 18 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Decatur been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Decatur, there has been 0 EF5 and 1 EF4 tornado recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Decatur?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Decatur was an EF0 on May 3, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Decatur?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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